Tensioned retaining wall for embankment



May 2, 1967 G. E. HEILIG TENSIONED RETAINING WALL FOR EMBANKMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR. GEORGE E. HEILIG ATTORNEY 7 y 2, 1967 G. E. HEILIG 3,316,721

TENSIONED RETAINING WALL FOR EMBANKMENT Filed July 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GEORGE E.HHLE

ATTORNEY May 2, 1967 5. E. HEILIG TENSIONED RETAINING WALL FOR EMBANKMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 6, 1964 fiz F INVENTOR. GEORGE E. HEILIG ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,316,721 TENSIONED RETAINING WALL FOR EIVIBANKMENT George E. Heilig, 1323 SW. Dolph St., Portland, Greg. 97219 Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 389,369 1 Claim. (Cl. 61-39) This invention relates in general to retaining walls for earth embankments, including embankments surrounding outdoor sunken swimming pools, and, in particular, low earth embankments for gardens.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple, practical and serviceable retaining wall for earth em-bankments of moderate height which can be constructed at only a fraction of the cost in labor and material involved in the construction of the customary masonry embankment walls.

A related object is to provide an embankment retaining wall formed of prefabricated parts which can be quickly assembled and set in place as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive embankment wall which will present a novel and very attractive appearance.

A further object is to provide a novel retaining wall for earth embankments of moderate height which can be set up so as to conform to any contour or shape required for the face of a retaining wall for the particular embankment in question.

The manner in which these objects and other incidental advantages are attained, and the manner in which the novel retaining wall of the present invention is constructed, will be readily understood from the following brief description with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the retaining wall being set up and looking towards the inside face of the wall;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1 and also a section taken on the line indicated at 3-3 of FIG. 2, drawn to the same scale as FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of portion of the completed wall as seen from the front of the wall;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic top plan view, drawn to a much smaller scale, illustrating how a retaining wall, constructed in accordance with the present invention, can be used for an embankment of irregular shape;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic front elevation illustrating how a wall of the present invention can be used for an embankment in a situation where the bottom of the embankment, instead of extending horizontally longitudinally has a general longitudinal slope in one direction, but in which the top of the embankment nevertheless extends longitudinally substantially in a horizontal direction;

FIG. 7 is a similar diagrammatic front elevation illustrating how a wall of the present invention can be used on an embankment-the base of which extends in a substantially horizontal line but the top of which slopes downwardly longitudinally;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a slightly modified construction which may be employed for the tensioned retaining wall;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation of the wall with this modified construction, the view being taken from the rear of the wall and on the line indicated at 9-9 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevation taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the retaining wall of the 3,316,721 Patented May 2, 1967 present invention is formed of a plurality of identical, flexible, generally rectangular sheet members 10, having a length equal to the desired height of the wall, arranged in series, and fastened together along the longitudinal edges and arranged in vertical position. These panels or flexible sheet members 10 may consist of any suitable sheet material, but preferably comprise fiberglass panels, such as the fiberglass sheet panels now commonly used for porch roofs, etc. Ordinary corrugated fiberglass panels in a green color are highly satisfactory for use in this construction and are preferred, since the vertical longitudinal corrugations and the green color give a most pleasing effect in a retaining wall for landscaped gardens, for example. As is well-known, such fiberglass, in addition to being flexible transversely, has a relatively high tensile strength, is long-lasting even when in contact with moist soil, and is comparatively inexpensive.

The panels 10 are secured together along their adjacent longitudinal edges by U-shaped upright clamping mem' bers 11, of aluminum or any other suitable metal, and clamping bolts 12 extending through the opposed walls of the clamping members and through apertures bored in the adjoining edges of the panel members 10, clamp the edges tightly together. The upright U-shaped clamping members 11 are spaced equal distances apart along the Wall, the spacing being such that the panels 10 will be bowed outwardly into identical substantially semi-cylindrical formation. For example, when using fiberglass panels of the standard 26 inches in width the spacing between the upright members 11 will preferably be approximately 21 inches although slightly more or less spacing would not matter.

To facilitate setting up the wall and arranging the up right members 11 in proper desired spacing and in proper alignment, a strip of lumber 13, of any suitable cross sectional size, such as an ordinary 2 x 2 inch strip, is first set in the ground along the line desired as the base location for the wall, and the bottom end of each member 11 is secured to such base strip at proper spacing in any suitable manner. For example, the bottom ends of the members 11 may be formed with flanges 14 which are provided with holes adapted for nailing the flanges 14 to the base strip 13, and there-by prevent the shiftingof the bottom ends of the members 11 during the setting up of the Wall.

To provide an inner anchoring and securing base for the wall connected series of grills 15 of heavy wire are preferably employed which series of grills are placed on the ground behind the base strip 13 as shown in FIG. 1. This anchorage grill assembly is laid along on the ground and due to the fact that wire grills are used for such anchoring base it is not necessary that the ground immediately behind the base strip 12 be levelled off with the same precision which would be required if a solid plate or slab were used for this purpose.

The U-shaped, upright panel clamping members 11 are provided at intervals with slot 16 (FIG. 3) through which loop portions of U-shaped fasteners 17 extend. Holding wires 18, having their bottom ends secured to sections of the grill assembly or anchoring base 15, are passed through these fastening loops 17 and held by suitable clamps 19. Various other suitable means for attaching these holding and bracing wires 18 to the members 11 could of course also be used.

As will be apparent, the weight of filled-ineanth on the base grill assembly 15 acts to cause it to be anchored in place. Generally for low walls the earth by itself is sufiicient to prevent the grill sections from being pulled upwardly from their initial position by the front wall structure. However, under some conditions it will be desirable to pour concrete over portions of the grill assembly or to place metal sheets or fine screen over the grill assembly 15 beneath the filled-in earth, which will then prevent any possibility of the grill sections being pulled up through the earth by any thrust on the wall. Another manner in which the grill assembly 15 could be held down more securely would be to sink anchor elements (not shown) into the earth below the grill sections at various points and secure the grill sections to such elements. Obviously the grill assembly should be of sufiicient width to provide enough leverage to support the pressure which will be exerted outwardly against the wall.

In order to hold the upper portions of the panel clamping members 11 spaced the same distance apart and to combine with the holding wires 18 in maintaining these clamping members 11, and therewith the secured edges of the panels 10, in proper vertical position, horizontal tensioning wires 20 connect consecutive clamping members 11 at the top, being secured to top fastening loops 17 of the respective clamping members.

With the various members of the wall assembly secured in place the filling in of earth behind the wall assembly then takes place. The pressure of the embankment, or filled-in earth against the curved and substantially semicylindrical panels will not be limited to pressure in one direction alone, but, as apparent, will include pressure outwardly in radial and lateral directions. But outward lateral pressure on one panel will be met by lateral pressure in the opposite direction on the adjoining panel. In this way the panels are held under tension and the thrust or load distributed.

With the individual panels cut for the desired height for the wall, and with the other construction elements of proper size it will be evident from this brief description that the erecting of the wall in place can be accomplished with very little expenditure of time and labor in comparison with other types of retaining Walls, and since the panels, as well as the other members of the wall assembly can be made available at extremely moderate cost, the total expense involved in such a retaining wall is very much less than with other types. Furthermore, when fiberglass is used for the panels, which is the preferred material, the exposed face of the wall, particularly with tinted corrugated fiberglass panels, presents a unique and attractive appearance.

This novel retaining wall is readily adaptable for use in various situations. Thus FIG. 5 illustrates how the wall can be made to extend continuously around and past corners. The wall can be used very advantageously as a side wall around a swimming pool. When used for this purpose, the concrete, which is used for the bottom of the swimming pool, is poured under, behind and in front of the bottom of the panels after the wall has been set up, so as to form a watertight seal with the bottom of the panels. Then, if necessary, the joints between the panels and the joints between the concrete and the bottom portions of the panels may be further sealed by epoxy or any other suitable material.

FIG, 6 illustrates the carrying out of the invention in a situation in which the main ground has a considerable :slope longitudinally with respect to the embankment for which the retaining wall is required, but where the top longitudinal line of the embankment is substantially horizontal. In such case the wall can be constructed in a series of sections with the panels and upright clamping members cut to different lengths to accommodate changes in the height. Thus, for example, the retaining wall in FIG. 6, is shown as including three panels 21 cut to one length or height, two panels 22 of a shorter length and two panels 23 cut to a still shorter length. The wall construction otherwise is the same and the successive panels are connected together, spaced and bowed, and held under tension in the manner previously described.

FIG. 7 illustrate a omewhat opposite situation in which the main ground at the base of the embankment is substantially horizontal but where the top of the embankment has a decided slope longitudinally. In this situation the upright panel clamping members 11 are cut to different lengths, and panels 24, 25 and 26 of different lengths, approximating the desired height of the wall at different locations, are used and then the top ends of the panels are cut to form the desired sloping top line for the wall.

In the modified construction shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the bowed rectangular panel members are indicated by the reference character 30. The anchoring assembly is shown as comprising a series of metal plates 31 the side edges of which are turned up to form vertical flanges 31'. Triangular side metal sheets, or wall-holding members 32 have their bottom edges bolted or otherwise secured to the pair of adjacent flanges 31' of the two adjoining anchoring plates 31. The triangular side sheets 32 have approximately the same height as the front panel members 30 The side edges of adjoining panel members 30 are secured together and to the side sheets 32 by bolts 33 or other suitable holding means. Transverse metal straps 34, near the tops of the panel members 30 hold the upper portions of the panel members spaced the proper distance apart and under desired tension.

Further minor modifications in the retaining wall assembly would be possible without departing from the principle of the invention. The essential feature is the employment of the outwardly bowed, or semi-cylindrical panels of sheet material, particularly panels of fiberglass, secured in place and held under tension and forming the face of the wall.

I claim:

A tensioned retaining wall for an embankment, said wall consisting of a series of similar panels of flexible sheet material of identical width secured only along their side edges, upright holding members for said panels located on the inside of the wall, the side edges of adjacent panels secured in said holding members, said holding members being parallel and spaced the same distance apart, the spacing between said holding members being such as to hold said panels in outwardly bowed and substantially semi-cylindrical shape, a ground member extending along in said wall, the bottom ends of said holding members connected to and held properly spaced apart by said ground member, wall tensioning means extending along the inner side of the upper portion of said wall, the upper portion of said holding members connected to and held properly spaced apart by said tensioning means, whereby said holding members will be kept parallel to each other and said panels maintained flexibly in outwardly bowed position by said holding members, and anchoring means extending into the ground on the inner side of said wall and connected with said holding members for retaining said holding members in upright position, whereby outward pressure on the wall by the embankment will result in thrust loads being directed against said panels in various directions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 178,639 6/1876 Holeton 52467 2,138,037 11/1938 Lane 6l35 2,388,624 11/1945 Tashjian 61-39 2,566,748 9/1951 Ringrose 6139 X 2,638,188 5/1953 Corn 61-39 X 2,769,277 11/1956 Keelor 6135 X FOREIGN PATENTS 118,377 1944 Australia.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JACOB SHAPIRO, Examiner. 

